Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 89
Chapter 89 - Tingshuang's Marriage Prospects
Because the ice shop's business was overwhelmingly bustling, and there were still several months of searing heat ahead, she and Uncle Chen had discussed the matter and set a daily sales quota.
Essentially, by noon, the ice shop's stock would be entirely sold out.
Consequently, those wealthy and noble households had no choice but to send their servants to line up early in the morning.
Many people on the streets were discussing the summer relief courtyard.
"I always used to wonder—isn't ice just made of water? How could it possibly sell for such an exorbitant price? It wasn't until I went to the summer relief courtyard established by Madam Yun that I finally understood why, in the sweltering heat of summer, blocks of ice are worth more than gold."
"Not to mention, having lived for so many years, this is the first time I've ever experienced the sheer bliss of using ice in the summer. I truly have to thank Madam Yun."
"Oh? This summer relief courtyard you're all talking about—what kind of place is it?"
"How can you not even know about such a massive affair? It's down in Osmanthus Lane in the West City. Walk all the way to the end, and the doors of that courtyard open for an hour or two every afternoon. Anyone can go inside to escape the heat. Who knows how many blocks of ice they've placed in that courtyard; the very moment you step inside, it feels just like winter. It's so wonderfully cool!"
"Heavens, placing ice blocks throughout an entire courtyard—just how much silver must that cost? Is the Yun family really that wealthy?"
"The Yun family has produced three great generals and is a truly illustrious, aristocratic clan. How could they possibly not have the silver to buy ice blocks? Come to think of it, among the countless illustrious clans in the capital with boundless wealth, only the Yun family uses their silver to perform charitable deeds for the common people. Madam Yun is truly a living bodhisattva."
"General Yun guards our homes and defends our country on the front lines, while Madam Yun spends her own silver to provide a cooling refuge for the common folk. The Yun family cherishes the people and shows deep compassion for all things—they are truly a model for all officials."
"I hear General Yun is about to lead his triumphant troops back to the capital soon. Our common people's great general is coming home!"
"That's wonderful, simply wonderful!"
"..."
The commoners cheered and celebrated together.
Yun Chu felt a stirring of emotion.
She had merely placed some shattered ice within a courtyard and provided a free resting place, which in reality did not cost all that much, yet she had reaped such immense praise from the ordinary folk.
Simple, honest commoners were just like this; as long as you offered them even the tiniest shred of care, they would etch it deeply into their hearts.
They would be the ones to throw caution to the wind and risk everything for you in your moments of greatest peril.
However, the strength of the common folk was far too minuscule. In her previous life, tens of thousands of commoners petitioned the throne, yet they could not shake the Emperor's disposition toward the Yun family.
The carriage soon halted before the gates of the Yun residence.
The moment she stepped down from the carriage, Tingshuang grew nervous.
Walking inside, her gaze immediately landed upon a young man standing within Madam Lin's courtyard.
Seeing her walk in, the young man turned his head slightly, daring only to steal a single fleeting glance before hastily retracting his line of sight.
"The matter I instructed you on just now, handle it precisely like that. You may withdraw for now," Madam Lin spoke, dismissing the young man, before turning her gaze to Yun Chu. "The one you saw just now is Mother Yu's youngest son. He is currently training under a deputy general beneath your father's command. What do you think?"
Yun Chu looked toward Tingshuang.
Tingshuang lowered her head, already pondering how to refuse.
She heard Madam Lin say, "Tingshuang, you and Chuchu grew up together from childhood. I regard your marriage with the exact same importance as Chuchu's. If you are unsatisfied, just shake your head; you need not wrong yourself out of deference to any pressure. If you are unsatisfied with this one, I will simply find you another. There are many fine young lads in the Yun army; we can take our time looking."
Tingshuang: "..."
Which meant that if she refused this one, countless others were lined up behind him.
She couldn't very well refuse every single person who came along; wouldn't that break Madam Lin's heart...
"This servant..." Tingshuang's mouth tasted bitter. "This servant doesn't know yet."
"True enough, we only just introduced you at a glance, and asking you to make a decision right away is indeed far too hasty," Madam Lin said with a smile. "Chuchu, when you return to the Xie residence later, take Yu Ke with you so he and Tingshuang can become more familiar with one another. You can make your decision then."
Yun Chu nodded. "I am indeed lacking in trustworthy manpower on my side. Having Yu Ke help me handle some matters in the outer courtyard will also lighten Uncle Chen's burden."
The matter was thus settled.
During the meal, Yun Chu brought up the subject of the summer relief courtyard: "...The Yun family's summer relief courtyard benefits many impoverished common folk. Nowadays, the common people praise the Yun family far too excessively; I fear this may be either a blessing or a curse, and we must find a way to deflect some of this attention."
She truly had not anticipated that such a tiny summer relief courtyard would provoke such a massive reaction among the common folk. Whenever anything went to an extreme, it would inevitably yield the opposite of the intended result.
Liu Qianqian laid down her chopsticks. "Although the Yun family acts to benefit the people, well-intentioned observers might perceive it as currying favor with the populace. Right now, the Yun family stands at the absolute pinnacle; one misstep and..."
Madam Lin shook her head. "You two are worrying needlessly. My Yun family has been loyal for generations, and the Emperor's trust in the Yun family flows like the boundless waters of a river; it is impossible for him to move against us."
She knew the Emperor harbored a certain wariness toward the Yun family, which was why, regarding her children's marriages, the Yun family married downward rather than seeking upward alliances, refusing to fraternize with any major aristocratic clans. Furthermore, the Yun family's eldest son no longer pursued a military career, and even in the imperial examinations, he deliberately performed poorly. The Emperor's wariness should be gradually subsiding.
Yun Chu gave a bitter smile.
She used to think the exact same way.
History had proven that a military aristocratic family capable of swaying imperial authority was destined for only one end.
"This summer is far too hot; if the summer relief courtyard were to disappear, heaven knows how many people would die of heatstroke," Madam Lin remarked. "The Emperor's suspicions are ethereal and illusory, whereas ordinary folk dying of heatstroke are a tangible reality. Are we expected to stand idly by and watch so many commoners perish simply because of a calamity that has yet to occur?"
Yun Chu knew that even if she had not proactively proposed opening the summer relief courtyard, her mother would still unconditionally have gone forth to relieve those commoners suffering from heatstroke.
"I have an idea," she suggested. "We merely need to inform the Emperor that the Yun family's actions are not intended to curry favor with the populace."
Liu Qianqian pressed further, "How do we inform him? By having your eldest brother submit a memorial? Wouldn't that be equivalent to protesting too much and drawing even more suspicion?"
Yun Chu shook her head. "We shall open a small shop within the summer relief courtyard. With people coming and going every afternoon, the shop will inevitably generate a modest amount of business. We will let the Emperor assume the Yun family is merely using the summer relief courtyard to earn a bit of silver. Eldest Sister-in-law, Mother, what do you think?"
Madam Lin's eyes lit up. "That is indeed a brilliant idea."
Liu Qianqian nodded in agreement. "Then leave this matter to me to execute."
With a woman managing these commercial and financial enterprises, the Emperor would have even less reason to utter any criticism.
Yun Chu placed a hundred and twenty percent of her trust in this eldest sister-in-law.
Her eldest sister-in-law was the legitimate eldest daughter of the fourth-rank Liu family, a lineage of true scholars. Her sister-in-law possessed the unyielding backbone of an intellectual family, and after the Yun family met its downfall, she had torn up the divorce letter her eldest brother tried to give her, pledging to live and die alongside the Yun family.
After finishing lunch at the Yun residence, Yun Chu set off to return home.
When they arrived, there had been three people—mistress and maids; upon leaving, they were joined by a young lad named Yu Ke.
Yun Chu, Tingshuang, and Tingfeng sat inside the carriage, while the driver sat outside, accompanied by Yu Ke, with the driver and Yu Ke conversing from time to time.
Tingshuang's expression was very calm, but in her heart, she was deliberating that after roughly ten days to half a month, she would ask her mistress to decline this arrangement. Her unwillingness to marry was her own affair; she could not delay another person's path to settling down and starting a family.
As the carriage rolled along the road, Tingfeng suddenly piped up, "Madam, this servant thinks she sees the little young master of the Prince of Pingxi's manor."
Yun Chu immediately raised her eyes to look.
Sure enough, she caught sight of a tiny child, escorted by a cluster of attendants, walking along the street.